Boys golf: Heitz, Brayman lead possible 3A contenders at Holy Family, Peak to Peak
Aug. 9—It's high praise in the world of golf when the phrase "lives at the golf course" describes a player's work ethic. It just seems far less hyperbolic in terms of golf geeks like Rudiger Heitz of Holy Family and Jack Brayman of Peak to Peak.
"Pretty much the second half of summer, I've been working at the golf club I live at," said the Tigers' longtime No. 1 player, Heitz. He'd just finished a shift in the cart barn at The Fox Hill Club, near where he lives in Longmont.
"My day is, I'm practicing golf anywhere from when I wake up around 9ish to when I start working at about 1. And the days I have off, I'm playing from sunrise to sunset."
The Tigers' and Pumas' respective standouts — each styled by their unwavering commitment in bettering themselves by their coaches — are among Class 3A's expected contenders this fall after placing in the top five at last year's state tournament.
With it, they lead teams returning all four 2022 state qualifiers.
"If everyone on the team pretty much plays how they should, and shoots what they can, while keeping a calm head, we can definitely win a few of these high school tournaments and at least get close to No. 1 in state," Heitz said this week. "We got to get into the mindset of winning."
Heitz is the clear No. 1 on a team that includes state returnees Drake Krommenhoek (29th at state), Wiley St. Germain (55th) and Ty Bairrington (56th), all of whom are seniors.
In preparation, the ace — whose swing coach is his dad Uli, a former semi-pro, — has continued to shine on the course following his fourth-place finish in 3A last season which, in turn, led the Tigers to a ninth-place team finish.
The past two months saw him place inside the top-20 in the PGA Junior Cup Series several times, including a sixth-place result at the Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins in June.
He opened his high school season in third at the first Northern Colorado Athletics Conference tournament last week, carding a 2-over-par 74 at Broadlands. He then tied for third (2-over 74) in the second at Boomerang on Wednesday.
"Rudi has been solid from Day 1 as a freshman," Holy Family coach Will Wilson said. "He seems to perform when the stakes are toughest. He has a mental toughness on the course that not every teenager has."
One of Holy Family's biggest hurdles come time for the October state tournaments will likely be the Pumas. Their sixth-place finish in 3A last year was the highest finish by a team from Boulder, Broomfield or Longmont in any classification.
Out front is a sophomore who coach Michael Ventimiglia said is "obsessed".
"He was a baseball player for a lot of years and decided to be 100% golf a couple years ago," Peak to Peak's fifth-year coach said. "He is that kid who puts in the work, effort and time to be exceptional. I think he is going to be strong over the next three years because of that obsession he has."
Behind Brayman, the Pumas run deep with state returners in junior Om Mathur (20th) and seniors Jack Winter (40th) and George Grady (64th).
As Brayman was out at a club tournament last week, Winter led three top-10 finishes for Peak to Peak at the first Metro League tournament at Aurora Hills, placing fourth at 2-over 74. Mathur was seventh (75), Grady ninth (76) and senior Kaden Brooks and junior Noah Ventimiglia each tied for 27th (85).
At the league's second tournament Tuesday, the Pumas were third as a team at Foothills, while Grady (fourth), Brayman (eighth) and Mathur (eighth) were top-10 finishers.
"I'm really careful with goals and putting out there that we're going to have a state run," said Ventimiglia, noting the added pressure it would cause. "Would I enjoy a state run? I think we all would. But at the end of the day, we just got to go out and play good golf. It sounds cliché but you got to hit greens, got to hit fairways, got to make some putts and reduce some mental mistakes. And if the team can do that, I think state could be a lot of fun."
